I’m lucky that I’ve always had a fairly good relationship with my mum. I tell her most things and despite the generation gap she can dispense advice or just an ear when needed.
My relationship with my mum changed recently when she was staying with us and fell over. After an operation to have a pin and plate fitted in her femur I had to look after her for the first time in my life. Despite being in her 80s she is a very independent woman and it was difficult for her to need me and difficult for me to face the realisation that she’s not indestructible.
I’m faced with the prospect of becoming a mother myself in a matter of days and I’ve been mulling over how much our lives are going to change. Soon there will be this little human being that is relying on us for everything.
I remember a line from Tom’s speech at our wedding that if I turn out to be half the mother my mum is I’ll be doing great. I thought he was just sucking up to her but actually he is right. She left her family in her early 20s go to England to train as a nurse. Her own mother sadly passed away soon after and when she married my dad she did so with none of her family around her. Her own sister was pregnant in Dublin and her dad couldn’t get away from the farm. She then had five children with very little help and support except from my dad and she raised five strong, independent women. The one thing she always impressed on us was that education was very important. Whatever happens in your life if you have a good education no one can take that from you.
And for the next few weeks I'm grateful my mother-in-law (and father-in-law), like the cavalry, have arrived to help me and one thing is for sure our baby will be surrounded by strong, amazing women. I'm grateful for everything my mum has taught me and shown me and this mother's day I'll try and make them both feel special and know how much they are appreciated......of course that's if I'm not otherwise occupied myself working out this motherhood thing!
